Spiral concentrator



April 3, 1956 I WINTERS ,523

SPIRAL CONCENTRATOR Filed Feb. 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

' DANIEL J. WINTERS ATTORNEY April 1956 D. J. WINTERS 2,740,523

SPIRAL CONCENTRATOR Filed Feb. 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Shee 2 l4 1 IO Fig. 2

INVENTOR. DANIEL J. WINTERS [and SPIRAL CONCENTRATOR Daniel 5. Winters, Denver, Colo.

Application February 2, 1953, Serial No. 334,603

7 Claims. (Cl. 209-211) As a development from and an improvement over the disclosures of my pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 298,545, this invention relates to devices for the classification and separation of intermixed discrete materials according to their relative densities, and has as an object to provide improved concentrating apparatus operable to efiect such classification and separation in reaction to the imposed pressure and consequent velocity of the material in and as a water pulp.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operatively improved concentrator of spiral vane type adapted for continuous efiicient operation in the economical treatment of value-bearing sands, and analogous materials,

A further object of the invention is to provide an operatively improved concentrator of spiral vane type characterized by a novel, non-clogging outflow passage for the concentrates segregated thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a concentrator of spiral vane type adapted for effective operation in various convenient relations of the pulp travel path therethrough with respect to the vertical.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved concentrator of spiral vane type susceptible of convenient adaptation for the treatment of various materials and to accomplish various degrees of concentration with respect to a given material.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved concentrator of spiral vane type that is economical of production and installation, operable with a minimum of adjuncts and facilities for low cost treatment of natural granular or comminuted materials, and which is conditioned for long useful life and ready rehabilitation in the field.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation of a practical embodiment of the invention as installed and arranged with its flow column vertical, ready for use.

Figure 2 is a vertical section, on a relatively enlarged scale, taken axially through the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail section, on a further enlarged scale, of the elements and structural associations constituting the concentrate take-off of the apparatus as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken substantially on the indicated line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken substantially on the indicated line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In the construction of the improvemeiit as shown, the numeral 143 designates a straight, tubular member of appropriate diameter and length which is conditioned, as will hereinafter appear, to function for density classification and separation of materials passed therethrough.

States Patent At its input end, the member 10 connects with and to directly receive flow from the outlet 11 of a power-driven pump 12 served by an intake 13 through which a water pulp of the materials to be treated is translated for pressure delivery to said member 10 as a consequence of pump 12 operation.

A plurality of like, uniformly spaced, rigid spiral vanes 14, in this instance three in number, is provided in a form and arrangement appropriate to tit within the member 10 and to extend through said member from the input and thereof continuously to the other end of said member and to close at their inner margins against a tubular core 15 coaxially of said member, thus to define separate, closed, spiral channels interiorly about and longitudinally of the member 10 between the vanes 14, through which channels the materials delivered to said member by the pump 12 are caused to swirl and flow for the generation of a centrifugal component operable to induce concentration of the heavier or denser material particles as a segregated layer against the inner surface of the member 10. While the vanes 14 and the associated core 15 may be connected and operatively associated with the member 16 in any convenient and expedient manner, it is feasible and economically practical to cast said vanes and core as a unit which may be readily inserted through one end of the member 10 and thereby replaceably associated with the latter for facility of assembly, maintenance and repair. The core 15 terminates in an inward spacing from the output end of the member 10, and from the end of said core to a point closely adjacent the output end of the member the inner margins of the vanes 14 are sloped or beveled, as at 16, to terminate adjacent the member output end with little extension radially and inwardly of the member. In the zone or chamber between the spacedly-adjacent ends of the member 10 and core 15, short spiral vane sections 17, corresponding in curvature and marginal slope with the adjacent ends of the vanes 14, are inserted between the vane 14 ends in such number and angular spacing relative to the vane 14 ends as is effective to maintain, and perhaps to enhance, the flow swirl velocity of the material emerging from the spiral passages past the end of the core 15, thus to insure dc liverv of the concentrates and segregated material frac tions to the output end of the member 16 along the inner surface of said member.

Rotatably supported in coaxial registration with and extending outwardly beyond the output end of the member 10 as will hereinafter appear, a tubular conduit 18 has a flow diameter less than that of said member coopcrating with the latter to define an annular passage or throat to which the heavier concentrates segregated as a consequence of material passage through the member 10 may be diverted from the main body of material flow and recovered separately therefrom. At its end coactable with the member 10, the conduit 18 is provided with a removable and replaceable mouth 19 of an internal diameter identical with that of the associated conduit and terminating in an outward flare productive of a thin parting edge 20 directed toward and-against the material fiow delivered by the member 10 and disposed a short distance inwardly of said member from the output end of the latter. Manifestly, the exterior diameter of the mouth 19 portion received within the member 10 may be adjusted, through selection of an appropriate mouth unit, to determine such spacing of the mouth exterior from the inner wall of the member Ill output end as will provide an annular throat therebetween having a flow capacity appropriate to regulate and determine the proportion of total flow susceptible of diversion therethrough as a concentrate; it being expedient and entirely practical to threadedly interengage coacting ends of the conduit and mouth 19 as shown in Figure 3, thus to facilitate installation and replacement of the mouth unit for determination of concentrate outflow throat capacity. Registered with and supported on the output end of the member ill as hereinafter set forth, a wear ring 21 of abrasion resistant material is disposed for removal and replacement as an outer wall for the concentrate outflow throat, said ring 21 having an interior diameter identical with that of the member it) for maintenance of smooth material flow from said member and to and through said ring.

A basin 22 for collection'of the concentrate output from the member and for support of other elements of the apparatus is provided in any desired size and construction and is formed with a centrally-upstanding sleeve 23 adapted to fit closely about and to telescope over the member 1% adjacent the output end of the latter, and a clamp collar 24 adjustable longitudinally of and engageable with said member 10 is provided as means for positioning said basin and its sleeve relative to the member output end when said member is vertically disposed, as illustrated. In the illustrated organization, the collar 24 is adjusted along and clamped to the member 19 so as to dispose the end of the sleeve 23 remote therefrom in an extension beyond the output end of the member 10 corresponding with the axial dimension of the Wear ring 21, thus to provide a pocket in the upper end of the sleeve 23 for the press-fit accommodation of said ring in the desired operative relation with the adjacent end of the member 19. The sleeve 23 preferably upstauds beyond the basin 22 and is exteriorly threaded from its free end and throughout a considerable portion of its length, and a flange 25 is formed with an internally threaded central aperture coactable with the sleeve 23, whereby to mount said flange on, radially, of and for adjustment along said sleeve. The flange 25 removably and replaceably supports a tubular housing 26 adapted to spacedly enclose the output end of the member 10, and within the base of said housing the flange 25 is formed with holes 27 disposed to provide passage from the housing 26 interior and to the basin 22, so that concentrates delivered through the throat at the output end of the member 19 as typified by the ring 21 and the mouth unit 19 may be received in the housing 26 and thence directed through the holes 27 to the. interior of the basin 22, said basin preferably having a sloped bottom inclining to an outflow line 2:; wherethrough the segregated concentrates may be directed to further processing and an overflow spout 29 at an elevation above that of the outflow 28 wherethrough surplus fluid can be diverted from the basin.

The housing 26 is threadedly engaged at its upper end by a collar 30 which in turn supports a threadedly-related reducer 31 from which fixedly upstands a barrel 32 coaxial with and spacedly about the conduit 18. Supported from and in concentric relation with the member 10 for altitudinal adjustment axially of and relative to said member by means of the threaded relationships specified, the barrel 32 functions to rotatably support and to adjustably position the conduit 18, for which purpose anti-friction bearings 33 are operatively engaged between opposed surfaces of said conduit and barrel in such altitudinal spacing and tight engagement of their inner and outer races with the conduit and barrel surfaces as will engage the conduit for rotation within and longitudinal travel with said barrel. Mounted as shown and described, the conduit 18 is centered for rotation of its mouth unit 19 within the wear ring 21 terminating the output end of the member 14) in such penetration Within said wear ring, and consequent spacing of the mouth unit parting edge 20 from the adjacent ends of the vanes 14 and vane sections 17, as may be adjustably determined through manipulation of the collar 30 and reducer 31.

A nut 34 closes the upper end of the barrel 32 about the conduit 18- and a pulley 35 is fixed to said conduit above said nut 34 in driven relation, as by means of a belt 36, with an electric motor 37, or equivalent source of, power, supported, in appropriate positionv and in any desired manner apart from the concentrator assembly; a sealing ring, or gasket, 38 being expediently interposed between the nut 34 and pulley 35.

A collar 39 adjustably clamped to and about the upper end of the barrel 32 carries angularly-spaced, upwardlydirected spider arms 40 whereupon is fixedly supported a drum-like basin 41 formed with an open-ended well 42 upstanding centrally from its bottom in position to telescopically accommodate the upper end of the conduit 18 extended therethrough to termination within and at some distance above the bottom of the basin 41. The upper end of the conduit 18 extends above the upper end of the well 42 and mounts appropriate sealing rings and a deflector cap 43 arranged to inhibit entrance of material delivered from the open conduit upper end within the space between said conduit and well. The floor of the basin 41 is moderately inclined to an outflow line 44 and a discharge spout 45 serves the basin adjacent the higher side of its floor, so that a screen 46 engaged within the basin 41 and about the well 42 with an inclination toward the spout 45 may function to receive the output from the upper end of the conduit 18 for delivery of material retained by said screen through the spout 45 apart from the liquids and fines which pass through the screen to the bottom of the basin and thence through the line to salvage, further processing, and possible return to the input side of the concentrator. Since the flow delivery from the upper end of the conduit 18 is normally had under considerable pressure, it is expedient to close the upper end of the basin 41, as by means of a removable cover 47.

In the operation of the improvement, the material to be processed is made available as a thin water pulp to the infeed line 13, the motor 37 is energized to steadily rotate the conduit 18 in its mounting at an appropriate speed, and the pump 12 is operated to induce inflow of material through the line 13 and the pressure flow of such material through the member 10. As the material moves through the member 10 it is smoothly and vigorously spiraled in the channels defined by the vanes 14, core 15, and member 10 with consequent centrifugal effect resulting in a segregation of the heavy material particles along and against the member 10 interior wall, such swirling and segregation being enhanced adjacent the upward end of the member 10 by means of the supplementary vane sections 17. As the material reaches the output end of the member 10, the parting edge 20 of the mouth unit 19 rotating with the conduit 18 effects a separation which accommodates escape of the tubular concentrate envelope from the member 10 and exteriorly about the mouth unit 19 and direction of the central core of the material flow through and to escape from the upper end of the conduit 18; the proportions characterizing the separation so accomplished being selectively variable, as will be manifest, through adjustment of the concentrator output throat area about the mouth unit 19 and through axial adjustment of the conduit and its mouth unit toward and away from the adjacent vane ends. The concentrate delivered exteriorly about the mouth unit 19 is collected Within the housing 26 and travels thence through the holes 27 to the basin 22 where surplus liquid may be diverted through the spout 29 and the solids salvaged through the line 28. The tailings outflow from the upper end of the conduit 18 is washed over and through the screen 46 with resulting diversion of the larger solids through the spout 45 and salvage of the fines through the line 44, all as should be clearly readable from the drawings and foregoing description.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a spiral concentrator having a tubular member adapted to transmit a flow of pulp, vanes spirally and interiorly of said member, a cylindrical core terminating in an inward spacing from the discharge end of said member and closing against inner margins of said vanes, a wear ring in smooth conformity with the bore of said member outwardly adjacent the vane ends and constituting the member discharge passage, conforming, supplementary vane sections symmetrically dividing the space between the principal vanes from the end of said core and to said ring, outwardly tapered inner margins on said vanes and vane sections diverging from the core termination and to said ring, a tubular conduit of less diameter than said member revolubly registered with and as a coaxial extension from the otherwise open discharge end of said member, an annular mouth removably and replaceably associated with the intake end of said conduit spacedly, concentrically and telescopically within said wear ring, whereby to establish an annular outflow throat from said member between said ring and mouth, a circular parting edge on said mouth in opposition to the adjacent ends of said vanes and vane sections, means for the collection of outflow through said throat, a journal mounting for said conduit adjustably supported and positioned by said collection means, separate means for the collection of outflow delivered through said conduit adjustably supported by said journal mounting, and means for rotating said conduit about its axis.

2. A spiral concentrator comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to transmit a flow of pulp, vanes spirally and interiorly of said member and sirnliarly closing at their inner margins against a cylindrical core coaxially of said member, a tubular conduit of less diameter than said member revolubly registered with and as a coaxial extension from the otherwise open discharge end of said member, whereby to establish an annular outflow throat exteriorly about said conduit at the discharge end of said member, means for the collection of outflow delivered through said throat, separate means for the collection of outflow delivered through said conduit, and means for rotating said conduit about its axis, wherein said core terminates within said member in an inward spacing from the member discharge end, said vanes are continued beyond the core termination to themselves terminate adjacent the intake end of said conduit, and the extensions of said vanes beyond the core termination are tapered in a decreasing width radially of the member from a maximum at the core termination and to a minimum adjacent the conduit intake end.

3. A spiral concentrator comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to transmit a flow of pulp, vanes spirally and interiorly of said member and similarly closing at their inner margins against a cylindrical core coaxially of said member, a tubular conduit of less diameter than said member revolubly registered with and as a coaxial extension from the otherwise open discharge end of said member, whereby to establish an annular outflow throat exteriorly about said conduit at the discharge end of said member, means for the collection of outflow delivered through said throat, separate means for the collection of outflow delivered through said conduit, and means for rotating said conduit about its axis, wherein said core terminates within said member in an inward spacing from the member discharge end, said vanes are continued beyond the core termination to themselves terminate adjacent the intake end of said conduit, and supplementary vane sections conformed to the principal vane extensions beyond the core termination symmetrically divide the passages between said extensions.

4. A spiral concentrator comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to transmit a flow of pulp, vanes spirally and interiorly of said member and similarly closing at their inner margins against a cylindrical core coaxially of said member, a tubular conduit of less diameter than said member revolubly registered with and as a coaxial extension from the otherwise open discharge end of said member, whereby to establish an annular outflow throat exteriorly about said conduit at the discharge end of said member, means for the collection of outflow delivered through said throat, separate means for the collection of outflow delivered through said conduit, and means for rotating said conduit about its axis, wherein said core terminates within said member in an inward spacing from the member discharge end, said vanes are continued beyond the core termination to themselves terminate adjacent the intake end of the conduit, supplementary vane sections conformed to the principal vane extensions beyond the core termination symmetrically divide the passages between said extensions, and said supplementary vane sections and vane extensions are alike tapered in a decreasing width radially of the member from a maximum at the core termination and to a minimum adjacent the conduit intake end.

5. A spiral concentrator comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to transmit a flow of pulp, vanes spirally and interiorly of said member and similarly closing at their inner margins against a cylindrical core coaxially of said member, a tubular conduit of less diameter than said member revolubly registered with and as a coaxial extension from the otherwise open discharge end of said member, whereby to establish an annular outflow throat exteriorly about said conduit at the discharge end of said member, means for the collection of outflow delivered through said throat, separate means for the collection of outflow delivered through said conduit, and means for rotating said conduit about its axis, wherein the means for collecting the outflow delivered through the annular throat at the discharge end of the tubular member comprises a basin formed with a centrally-upstanding sleeve telescopically engageable with and about said member adjacent the discharge end thereof, means for securing said sleeve in adjusted position axially of said member, a flan'ge threadedly engaged with and exteriorly about said sleeve, a tubular housing fixedly upstanding from said flange across the zone of said annular throat in an outward spacing from and concentrically about the member discharge end, and holes in said flange communicating with the housing interior.

6. A sprial concentrator comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to transmit a flow of pulp, vanes spirally and interiorly of said member and similarly closing at their inner margins against a cylindrical core coaxially of said member, a tubular conduit of less diameter than said member revolubly registered with and as a coaxial extension from the otherwise open discharge end of said member, whereby to establish an annular outflow throat exteriorly about said conduit at the discharge end of said member, means for the collection of outflow delivered through said throat, separate means for the collection of outflow delivered through said conduit, and means for rotating said conduit about its axis, wherein a coilecting basin is formed with a centrally-upstanding sleeve selectively positionable in telescopic engagement with and about the tubular member adjacent the discharge end thereof, a flange threadedly engaged with and about said sleeve supports a tubular housing across the zone of the annular throat in an outward spacing from and concentrically about the member discharge end, said housing mounts a barrel thereby positioned in axial alignment with said member, and anti-friction bearings spacedly carried by said barrel revolubly support and operatively position said conduit.

7. A spiral concentrator comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to transmit a flow of pulp, vanes spirally and interiorly of said member and similarly closing at their inner margins against a cylindrical core coaxially of said member, a tubular conduit of less 7 diameter than said member revolubly registered with and as a coamal extension from the otherwise open dis,- charge end of said member, whereby to establish an annular outflow throat exteriorly about said conduit at the discharge end of said member, means for the collection of outflow delivered through said: throat, separate means for the collection of outflow delivered through said conduit, and means for rotating said conduit about its axis, wherein a collecting basin is formed with a centrally-upstanding sleeve selectively positionable in telescopic engagement with and about the tubular member adjacent the discharge end thereof, a flange threadediy engaged with and about said sleeve supports a tubular housing across the zone of the annular throat in an outward spacing from and concentrically about the member discharge end, said housing mounts a barrel thereby positioned in axial alignment with said member, anti-friction bearings spacedly carried by said barrel revolubly Support and operatively position said conduit in end extension beyond the barrel, and the means for collection of outflow delivered through said conduit comprises a closed basin adjustably secured to the end of said barrel remote from said housing, an open-end well upstanding centrally and interiorly of said closed basin in loose, telescopic relation with the delivery end of said conduit, a deflector cap on and rotatable with the delivery end of said conduit in overhanging relation with the upper end of said well, an inclined screen dividing said closed basin about said well, and separate outlets from said closed basin for the materials separately classified by said screen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,347 Haskell June 3, 1890 2,199,015 Toensfeldt Apr. 30, 1940 2,512,253 Lipscomb June 20, 1950 2,645,346 Staege et a1 July 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 962,402 France Dec. 12, 1949 1,021,374 France Dec. 3, 1952 

